In that year also the goods of Abu 'l-`As ibn ar-Rabi' were captured.

In that year also the goods of Abu 'l-`As ibn ar-Rabi' were captured. He had gone to Syria to trade, and had with him much merchandise belonging to the men of Quraysh. On his way back, he met a detachment belonging to the Messenger of Allah. The men seized his caravan, but he escaped. They brought the booty to the Messenger of Allah, who divided it among them. Abu 'l-`As, however, came to Medina and sought protection (jiwar) of Zaynab, daughter of the Apostle of Allah.

He requested that she intercede with the Prophet on his behalf to return his goods to him, for he carried much wealth which people had entrusted to him. The Messenger of Allah called the men and said: "This man is one of us, as you well know. If, therefore, you see fit that you return his wealth to him, it is best that you do so." They gave back to him whatever they had taken. Abu 'l-`As then returned to Mecca and gave the people back their trusts.

He then said: "By Allah, nothing prevented me from becoming a Muslim before I came to you except the fear that you may think that I had done so in order that I may run away with your wealth. But now. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Servant and Apostle." The Treaty Of Al-Hudaybiyyah In the same year, in the month of Dhu'l-Qi'dah (7/629) the treaty of al-Hudaybiyyah was concluded between the Prophet and the people of Quraysh.

The Prophet set out with a large company of his intending to perform the `umrah, or lesser pilgrimage. He led before him seventy large animals (camels and cattle) for sacrifice. News of this reached the Associators of Quraysh, who sent a group of horsemen to prevent him from the Sacred House of worship (i.e., the Ka'bah). The Prophet had thought that they would not fight with him, because he had set out during a sacred month.

The story of Suhayl ibn `Amr and his son Abu Jandal and the way in which the Apostle of Allah dealt with them, and which caused the man who claimed to have never doubted Islam except on that day to cast suspicion on the Prophet, is well-known. [^54] A man called Burayd ibn Warqa' came to the men of Quraysh and said: "O people of Quraysh, do not be troubled, for he has come not with the intention of fighting with you.

Rather, he came intending to make pilgrimage to the Sacred House of Allah." They answered: "By Allah, we shall not listen to your advice! Nor will the Arabs have cause to talk among themselves about him having entered Mecca with ease!